Holder for paper matches



Flled 0c June 20, 1939.

HOLDER FOR PAPER MATCHES IIIIIIIEL' Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

My invention relates to holders for packages of paper matches of thewell-known form in which a body of matches is secured in a closureprovided with a striking flap and a front flap.

One object accomplished by my invention is the provision of a holder formatches of the type described, in which the match package is heldsecurely in position with the striking flap exposed and the body ofmatches also exposed,

in so that a single match can be removed from the package and struck onthe flap provided for that purpose with the use of but one hand.

Another object attained by my invention is the provision of a holderconstructed of comparatively few parts so arranged as to permit easy andrapid insertion and removal of the match package from the holder.

Another object accomplished by my invention is the provision of a holderof the type described go in which the parts are simple and cheap inconstruction and durable in use.

Still another object attained by my invention is the provision of amatch package holder so shaped as to minimize the possibility of ignitin5 the matches from lighted Smoking materials accidentally placed on thematch package or on the holder.

Other features and objects of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following dew scription.

I shall describe one form of holder embodying my invention, and shallthen point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form ofholder embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View illustrating a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 aredetailed views of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the clip C forming a part of the holder illustratedin the preceding figures and also embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference character A designates a basewhich may be of any suitable material and of any reasonable size, butshould preferably be of suificient mass to maintain its position while amatch is being so struck against it. In the form here shown, the base Ais formed integrally with an ash tray B, the base forming a portion ofthe rim of the tray, but this particular construction is not essential.The base A may be formed on, or

.3; attached to, a support of any desired kind.

The base A, as best seen in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is provided with a bodyportion I, having a substantially flat top face inclined downwardly andprovided with a recess 2 defined by the edges 4 of the body portion I ofthe base. This recess 2 as best seen in Fig. 3, has an inclined bottom,so that the depth of the recess diminishes as it approaches the top ofthe body portion l. The recess 2 is deep enough at its lower end toreceive a package D of paper matches of the usual and Well known form.The usual paper closure fiap of the match package may be torn off or maybe folded under the body of matches, so that the matches themselves areexposed, as shown in Fig. 1.

After a package of matches has been inserted in the recess of the base,a clip C is attached to the base to clamp the matches in the recess. Theclamp C, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and illustrated in detail in Fig. 5,comprises a body portion 8 containing an aperture and two side portions9 and ill. The clip may be formed of any suitable resilient material,such for example, as brass or steel, and is formed at its ends withresilient ears l3 and M which embrace rounded ribs 5 and 6 on the baseA. With this construction the resilient ears on the clip C clamp theclip firmly in place on the base 'by their engagement with the ribs onthe base. Ashoulder 1 formed on the base A enters a notch M in the earl2, thereby assisting in the proper location of the clip when it isapplied to the base and preventing transverse movement of the clip withrespect to the base.

The rim of the body portion of the clip is struck downwardly at pointsll near the end of each side of the aperture to provide fingers whichpress directly upon the striking fiap of the match package and hold theparts firmly in place.

It will be seen that the rim of the clip overlies the edges of the paperclosure of the match package, but the aperture in the clip exposes thebody of the matches and permits their convenient removal withoutdisplacement of any parts of the match holder. For this purpose theaperture in the clip is preferably made somewhat smaller than the recess2 in the base A.

The clip may be readily removed from the base by insertion of the usersfinger into a groove [5." formed in the back of the base A partlyunderlying the ear 13 of the clip, as best shown in Fig. 2. w p

By virtue of the inclined face of the match holder, a cigarette or cigarinadvertently placed 4 upon the match package will, by gravity, roll offof the holder, and, in the modification here shown, into the ash tray.With this construction there is little probability that the entirepackage of matches can be ignited by accidental contact with lightedsmoking materials carelessly placed on the match package or the holder.

Another advantage of the holder embodying my invention, is that due tothe shape of the recess ,2 into which the match package is inserted, theend of the package provided with the striking flap is securely held bythe fingers I l of the clip in a position well below the top of theholder, thereby facilitating the use of the striking flap for ignitingthe match. At the same time the shape of the recess, diminishing indepth toward its top, tends to force the free ends of the matches of thematch package upwardly through the recess in the clip, therebypermitting the matches to be grasped easily for removing them from thepackage.

It will be noted that the surfaces of the clip and the base are smoothand free from projections. These surfaces may be employed to receiveadvertising matter stamped or printed upon the clip or base, or anyother suitable emblem, legend or insignia may be applied to the parts ofthe holder by any of the well known processes.

It will be understood that while I have illustrated my invention asapplied to an ash tray of a particular form, the invention is notlimited to this particular embodiment, but the holder is equallyapplicable to a construction in which the base takes any suitable formor is attached to or formed in a receptacle of any kind.

It will also be understood that while I have shown the holder designedto receive a package of paper matches of the conventional and wellknowntype, the holder may be modified in its design to receive match packagesof any size or shape, and that the parts of the holder may beconstructed of any suitable material and may be provided withornamentation or accessories to any appropriate degree.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of match holderembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base, a separate clip for clamping the package of matchesagainst the base and provided with an aperture through which the matchesmay be removed from the package, and cooperating means on the base andthe clip for removably retaining the clip in clamping position,

2. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base having a recess to receive the package of matches, anda clip attached to said base for retaining the package in said recessand provided with a rim for engaging said package and an aperture forexposing the matches.

3. A holder. for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base, a separate clip for clamping the package of matchesagainst the base, said clip having spaced ears for receiving said baseto limit movement of said clip vertically and longitudinally of theclip, and said base having a shoulder entering a notch in the .clipv tolimit transverse movement of the clip.

4. A holder for use in connection with paper match packages consistingof a body of matches enveloped in a wrapper including a striking flapand a closure flap, said holder comprising a base to receive the matchpackage with the closure flap folded behind the body of matches, a clipseparately attached to said base and provided with an aperture having arim for engagement with said closure flap While exposing said body ofmatches, and fingers on said clipengaging 0pposite ends of the strikingflap.

5. A holder for use in connection with paper match packages consistingof a body of matches enveloped in a wrapper including a striking flapand a closure flap, said holder comprising a base having a recess toreceive the match package with the closure flap folded behind the bodyof matches, said recess being deep enough at one end to allow thestriking flap to lie substantially level with the face of the base andso shallow at the opposite end that the body of matches is held abovethe level of the face of the base, and a clip separately attached to thebase and provided with integral means for engaging the ends of thestriking flap and with an aperture to expose the body of matches.

6. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base provided with a substantially rectangular recess andparallel ribs adjacent the short sides of such recess, a clip havingears to receive said ribs and provided with an aperture registering withbut smaller than said recess to form a rim overlying the edges of saidrecess, and fingers integral with said clip and-depending into saidrecess for clamping a package of matches in said recess.

'7. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base having spacedparallel ribs and a shoulder, and a cliphaving ears to engage said ribs and shoulder whereby the clip is securedto said base to clamp a'package of matches against the base.

8. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base having a fiat upper face inclined with the horizontaland provided with a recess the depth of which diminishes graduallytoward the upper end of the base, and a clip with resilient earsengaging the base and provided with integral means for clamping againstthe base a package of matches inserted in said recess with the matchheads adjacent the upper end of the base whereby objects laid on theholder will roll away from the heads of thematches.

9. An ash tray comprising a bowl having a rim shaped to form a base witha top surface inclined downwardly into the bowl and a clip removablysecured to saidbase to clamp a package of matches between the base andclip, said clip being provided with an aperture through which thematches may be singly removed from the package.

10. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base having a top terminating in curved ribs overhangingopposite ends of the base and a resilient clip having an ape-rtured bodyportion covering said top and curved ears to receive said ribs to clampa package of matches between the top of the base and the body portion ofsaid clip, and a groove in said base located in part under the edge ofone ear on said clip to receive a finger for removing the clip from theblock.

1].. A clip for clamping a package of matches to a base andcomprising anintegral pieceof resilient material having a substantially flat bodyportion provided with an aperture to permit removal of matches from thepackage, and a pair of downwardly curved integral ears formed onopposite ends of the clip to receive the base one ear being formed witha notch to receive a shoulder on the base, the rim of said body portionbeing inclined downwardly at one end of each side of said aperture toform fingers to engage the package of matches.

12. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base provided with ribs, and a separate clip for clampingthe package of matches against the base and having a body portion toengage a part of said package and a pair of ears for engaging said ribson opposite sides of said package to retain the clip in clampingposition.

13. A holder for use in connection with a package of matches andcomprising a base and a separate clip provided with an aperture smallerthan said package, and cooperating means on the base and clip forremovably retaining the clip in position, said base and clip beingformed to define a recess to completely enclose the match package exceptfor the aperture in said clip, whereby the package is retained in theholder.

ROBERT C. READ.

